Coupling



Feb. 27, 1923.

w. NOVAK v COUPLING Filed Feb. 23, 1921 2 sheefis-sheet l M22162), J/bu a):

ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1923. 1,447,146 W. NOVAK COUPLING Filed Feb. 25, 192] 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVEN OR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

ums? s res ile 1 Price.

WILLIAM ,NOVAK, or ALLIANCE, onto;

COUPLING.

' Application filed Febniary 23, 1921'. Serial No. 447,188.

This invention relatesnto car coupling means, the principal object of the invention being to provide automatic means for connectlng two parts together and wlthout the use of pins or 'other' 'rnanually operated devices.

Afurther object is to provide a coupler having spring cushioned elements whereby the shock of one car coming into contact with another is minimized by the cushion element interposed.

A further object is to provide means whereby the cars may be operated upon a curve without binding or straining the connecting elements.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed. out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention'in detail, reference will be hadto the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the sevoral views, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a car coupler made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof, parts being broken away in order to disclose the construction.

Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a similar transversesectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in'detail, the numerals l0 and 11 represent, respectively, two cars such as are used upon railways.

Connected below the flooring with the understructure of the car 11, is a beam 14, carrying at its outer end a pin 15 on which is pivotally mounted the forked ends 16 of a convexly curved head 17, having formed in its opposite sides transverse recesses 18,

the'purpose of whichwill, be further on described.

. Similarly attached below the 'carbody lO is another beam, comprised ofan upper plate 20, and a lower plate 2l, havin g openings 22, by which the plates aresecured in rigid engagement with the underst-ructure 'of the car, the front portion of the lowerpla'te 21 being bent down into a vertical element 23 and then outwardly into an extension 243, parallel with, but spaced from stheupper plate 20. e

A reinforcing bracket 25 is secured by bolts 26 immediately rearward and-adjacent to the angular element 23, the bracket being so formed as to act as a brace.

A rectangular block 27 is freely slidable between the upper and lower plates 21 and 24, and set in its rear end is a rod 28, the same pressing through a suitable opening formed in the element 23 and is encircled by the coils of a strong compression spring 29, one end of which abuts against the block 27, while the opposite end of the spring makes contact with the vertical element 23, the

effect being to normally press the block out-' ward.

In order to lighten the block 26, a central longitudinal opening 30 is formed from end to end therethr'ough, except at the point of insertion of the rod 28.

Formed through the plates 20 and 24, respectively, are slots 31 and 32, receptive of a bolt-like bar 33, having an oblong cross section which passes upward through an opening 34 formed in the block 27 this bar having an enlarged extending head 35 at one end, and is drilled to receive a cotter pin 36 at the upper extending end by which the bar is held in position. This bar 33 and the slots 31 and 32 act to limit the sliding movement of the block 26.

At the outer end of the coupler block 26 is formed an enlarged head 37 having an arm 38 and a projecting part 39 thereon, the arm 38 having an inwardly extending projection 40.

of which is normally pressed outward from the block 26 by a bent fiat spring 44: secured to the side of the block. The outwardly extending arm 45 is pressed tightly against the projecting part 39, and is formed with a hooked end 46 having a cam-like surface 47 disposed slightly in advance of the hook 40 with which it is oppositely disposed.

In operation, the head 17, attached to the car which it is desired to effect the coupling, makes contact with the hooks 40 and 46 substantially simultaneously, causing the hook 40 to engage in one of the recesses 18, whereupon the hook 46 is engaged in the oppositely disposed recess due to the effect of the spring 44:, while the outer extremity of the pivoted head 17 is suited to be received within the head 37, which being pressed forward by the spring 29 effectually locks the cars together.

When it is desired to uncouple the cars the lever end 43 is pressed inward and the head 17 is swung out from the recess in the head 37, allowing the cars to separate in an obvious manner.

By means of the pivotal connection between bar 14 and the head 17 the cars may take curves without binding or straining the connecting elements.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily'apparent.

I desire it to beunderstood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is In a car coupler, a hollow beam consisting of a pair of plates connected together, one plate having an intermediate portion extend-1 WILLIAM NOVAK. 

